Late-inning push not enough as Jacksonville falls to Worcester

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite scoring runs in three consecutive innings, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell to the Worcester Red Sox 9-4 Sunday afternoon in front of 5,170 fans at 121 Financial Ballpark.

Worcester (5-1) blew the game open with a five-run top of the fifth. With one out, Roldani Baldwin walked and Yolmer Sanchez singled to put runners on first and third. Grant Williams reached on an infield single, scoring Baldwin and an error allowed Sanchez and Williams to advance to second and third. Jeter Downs walked to load the bases and Triston Casas followed with a sac fly to score Sanchez to increase the Red Sox lead to 4-0. With two runners on, Franchy Cordero continued his power surge with a three-run home run that flew over the right field bleachers, giving Worcester a 7-0 advantage.

For the fourth time this series, the Red Sox drew first blood. In the top of the second, Johan Mieses worked a one-out walk and after a pop out, Baldwinblasted a two-run home run to put Worcester ahead 2-0.

Jacksonville (1-5) was held without a hit until the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Charles Leblanc singled and scored on a two-out single by Erik González.

The Jumbo Shrimp plated another run in the bottom of the sixth. Peyton Burdick led off with a single and Nick Fortes worked a one-out walk to put runners at first and second. Lorenzo Quintana knocked a single to load the bases and with two outs, Leblanc smacked his second single of the day to drive in Burdick, which cut into the deficit 7-2.

Worcester padded their lead, adding two more runs in the top of the seventh. Casas walked to lead off the inning and Christin Stewart walked with one out. With runners on first and second, Mieses rocked a two-run double as the Red Sox pushed their lead to 9-2.

Jacksonville kept fighting as they pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh. González led off with a double and came around to score on a single by Bryson Brigman. Burdick followed suit with a single and Brigman advanced to third. With runners at the corners, Lewin Díaz hit a sac fly to score Brigman from third to bring the Jumbo Shrimp to within five, 9-4.

The Jumbo Shrimp open a six-game series on the road with the Durham Bulls, starting Tuesday, April 12 at 6:35 p.m. from Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Jumbo Shrimp will send RHP Max Meyer (0-0, 4.50) to the hill. Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on ESPN 690 and espn690.com.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.